Could this be Hell Week?

Today’s readings span a wide range of human feelings…happiness, love, fear and courage. The common denominator is the coming of Jesus, which will elicit all of these emotions when time’s up and we have to account for how we’ve lived.…

The Way to Truth is Our Life

All Christians can agree on this definition of God: “God is love.” That’s an easy one. But there is something else God is that human beings have trouble wrapping their heads around. Jesus told us who God is by introducing…

Fear of Man Dooms; Fear of God Saves.

Today’s readings remind us of the scary times in which we live. I’m not just talking about today’s scripture readings, but also the readings from today’s newspapers. Palestinian rockets are bombarding Tel Aviv and Jerusalem while Israel is readying for…

God Helps His Reluctant Leaders

The world’s best leaders came to that role reluctantly. That truism is reflected not only in today’s readings but throughout history. In today’s second reading from Hebrews, Paul notes that God appoints every high priest to act on the people’s…

Too Many Public Servants, Not Enough Slaves

All politicians are local.  They’re inescapable, and lobbying to take an even loftier position in our lives. That must have been how Jesus felt in today’s gospel when James and John asked for the highest positions in his cabinet. But Jesus was suspicious…

The Price of Heaven? You Can’t Afford it.

I’ve always identified with that poor/rich guy in today’s gospel who asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. I don’t relate to his wealth, really, but to his desire for some assurance of salvation. When Jesus quotes him the price, he…

The Gospel According to Tammy

Our little boy is four years old and quite a little man So we spell out the words we don’t want him to understand Like T-O-Y or maybe S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E; But the words we’re hiding from him now Tear the heart…